BOSTON — Starting this week through early July, residents of towns and cities throughout Massachusetts will meet to learn about and take action to support the Safe Driving Bill, a bill that would remove immigration status as barrier to becoming a tested, licensed and insured Massachusetts driver, thereby improving road safety for all Massachusetts residents.

The bill’s deadline has twice been extended, and it must now receive a favorable report by July 3 by the Joint Committee on Transportation, co-chaired by Representative William Strauss and Senator Thomas McGee, in order to move to the next step of the legislative process. Organizations allied with the Safe Driving Coalition are holding forums and general informational sessions in Boston, Brockton, Marlborough and Jamaica Plain, targeting immigrant communities from Ireland, Latin America, and beyond.

In separate recent online polls conducted by Fox News and by Boston Herald columnist Michael Graham, the bill was favored by at least 70% of voters, and at theSafe Driving Bill hearing before the Joint Committee on Transportation on March 5, testimonies ran overwhelmingly in favor of the bill, delivered by diverse voices ranging from the Patrick Administration to domestic violence survivor advocates.

The bill follows in the wake of eight states that have recently passed similar legislation, including Vermont and Connecticut. States with Safe Driving laws have shown decreases in both unlicensed drivers and fatal accidents.